Bacon Pizza Puffs

Have you ever spent hours cleaning the whole house before guests come over, and in the end they don’t go anywhere but your kitchen?

Kitchens have a knack for instantly drawing guests in, becoming a comfort zone for conversation and catching up along with eating and drinking. You may even be left frustrated because you spent all your time cleaning the dining room, the patio, and the living room, only to have no one spend any time in those spots.

Instead of trying to push guests into the other rooms of your home, why not embrace the fact that they’re loving being in your kitchen? What says home — enjoying meals, gathering together — like a kitchen? You may even spend most of your time in there, which makes it even more natural that your guests gravitate towards it. At least everyone is in one place!

Nothing makes a kitchen more inviting to guests like homemade, bite-sized treats. I’m usually all about the sweets, but I think a savory snack can bring more people into the kitchen when they first come over. Who doesn’t like snacking while catching up on life?

These bacon pizza puffs are so enticing that no one can resist them. Trust me. One flavor-packed bite, they’re light and airy, with a little bit of bacon to make them satisfying. Serve them on colorful, eye-catching plates and place mats, and you’ll draw the attention of anyone who walks through the front door.

These puffs are baked in a mini-muffin tin, so they’re less messy to eat. You really don’t even need to bring out any plates, forks, or knives. Just pop them in your mouth, one at a time.

Here are some other ideas for attracting your guests into the kitchen:

Keep it tidy. No one wants to hang out in a messy room, and you’ll be able to relax more if your space if neat and organized.

Let guests know that they are welcome to any beverages you have on hand by leaving glasses out on the counter, or in a pretty display.

Use warm and inviting colors in your decor. When I walk into a kitchen and the only color I see is white, I’m afraid to touch anything for fear that I’ll mess it up. I would hate to be the one that “dirties” a white kitchen.
If I were to see blue, yellow, and orange, like in the pictures above, I’d feel much more comfortable making myself at home.

Last but not least, the food! Line up a couple plates of mini appetizers, including these bacon pizza puffs, and everyone will be sure to enjoy their time visiting.

This recipe is slightly adapted from Hannah and Bryan.

So, if your guests gravitate to your kitchen, embrace it. Keep the space open, inviting, and stocked with snacks, and everyone will enjoy the party.

This post is part of BlogHer’s Kitchen Entertaining editorial series, made possible by KitchenAid.